Surface drain



NOV. 23, 1954 M A, 515K 2,695,073

SURFACE DRAIN Filed May 22. 1953 H-g-. 7 ma 52;

- laow/ United States Patent Cce SURFACE DRAIN Martin A. Sisk, Pittsburgh, Pa. Application May 22, 1953, Serial No. 356,751 6 Claims. (Cl. 182-31) My invention relates to surface drains for use in the oors of shower bath enclosures, roadways, decks of ships, floors and roofs of buildings, and the like, to provide debris-excluding protection at the inlets of drain openings or pipes. The structure of the invention will also nd utility as a guard for pipes and openings of any sort in which liquid is received, and in the operation of which it is desirable to exclude solids of a size that might clog the opening, or the pipe leading therefrom.

In general, an outlet or floor drain of the type in mind consists in a cup-shaped body that is installed within or below the oor or other structure whose surface is to be drained, and the inlet of the body is covered by a removable top or grate. The upper face of the grate usually lies flush with the surface to be drained The body of the drain forms a belled terminus at the end of a drain pipe laid beneath or within the structure whose surface is to be drained.

In the usual prior structures the grate consists in a perforate cover of metal which rests at its periphery in a rabbeted seat formed in the rim of the body of the drain, and most of the water entering the drain does so through holes or openings in the cover or grate located inwardly from the rim of the drain body, with the result that the flowing water does not completely Hush the inner surface of the side wall of the drain body. Consequently, debris carried by the waste water tends to accumulate on such surface of the drain body, especially just below the grate, and between the seat in the drain body and the edge of the grate. The accumulated debris over a period of time decomposes, creating foul odors and unsanitary conditions. In order to cleanse such drains, it is necessary to remove the grate and scrub or scrape away the accumulations-manifestly an unpleasant task. An important feature of this invention resides in the elimination of these objectionable conditions.

My present invention comprises a drain structure having a peripheral slot whose outer edge is vertically aligned, or substantially so, with the inner surface of the drain body. This slot is effective throughout the periphery of the drain body inlet, and the internal surfaces of the drain body extend from this slot downwardly to the drain outlet, or to the inlet of the drain pipe on which the drain body is mounted, az'ording a clear unrestricted downsweep for the flow of the draining water. No objectionable ledges, channels, or crevices are present in the structure, on which or in which debris may accumulate.

In accordance with my present invention, the peripheral slot is formed in the drain body between inner and outer peripheral rim portions of such body and the grate of the drain structure is supported on the inner rim portion.

The application for these Letters Patent comprises a continuation-in-part of my copending application, Serial No. 174,935, filed July 20, 1950.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view in plan of a drain structure embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a view of the drain structure in vertical section, on the plane indicated at Il-II in Fig. l; and

Figs. 3 and 4 are fragmentary views, illustrating in vertical section certain permissible modifications.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the drain body will be seen to comprise a metal casting 2 of iron, or of a more expensive metal, if desired. The body rs provided with a peripheral outer rim portion 3 that defines the inlet of the drain body, and a peripheral inner rim portion 4, upon which a grate 5 is positioned, 1n this 2,695,073 Patented Nov. 23, 1954 case with the top of the grate ilush with the surface 6 of the floor to be drained. Extending downwardly from the rim portion 3 the side wall of the drain body comprises a vertical succession of smooth annular surfaces e and f, the latter surface f sloping downwardly and in- Wardly to an opening-in this case a threaded opening gwhich receives the terminal of the drain pipe (not shown), for conducting the drainage liquid to a sewer or other point of disposal.

While the inlet of the drain body is herein shown to be circular in plan, it will be understood that the form of such inlet may be square, octagonal, or of other suitable contour.

The internal surface of the side wall of the drain body, extending downwardly from the rim 3 in a continuous series of smooth surface areas (e and f) that fair with one another, provides a downsweep that is unobstructed, having no recesses or ledges in which, or upon which, drainage water, or sediment, or debris may accumulate. Cooperating with this particular form of the integral surface of the drain body is a slot 7 formed between the inner and outer rim portions 3 and 4 of the drain body, and/ or is formed between the outer rim portion 3 of the drain body and the peripheral edge 10 of the grate.

The lower portion of the drain body has a radially extending horizontal flange 8 upon which the usual suboor membrane or flashing of lead or tar paper (not shown) is secured. This is a conventional detail of construction, and for present purposes it need only be remarked that any water seeping from the oor surface 6 downwardly between the drain body and the adjacent body of the floor is caught on the membrane and drained through weep holes 9 into the drain body.

The grate or perforate top 5 of the grate structure is in this case of general plate or disk-like form, comprising portion 50 having the said outer peripheral edge 10. Within such annular portion spaced crossbars or bearer-bars 11 form the open-work structure of the grate, through which drainage liquid may enter the drain body therebelow. A feature of my structure consists in the provision of a substantially continuous peripheral slot between the perforate body of the grate seated upon the inner rim portion 4 of the drain body and the rim portion 3 of said drain body.

Extending outwardly from the inner rim portion 4 of the drain body is a plurality of relatively narrow radial lugs or spokes 12 that are widely spaced apart circumferentially of the grate, so that the slot 7, as far as flow of drainage liquid into the drain is concerned, forms a substantially continuous flushing opening which is peripherally coextensive with the downsweeping side wall of the drain structure. The spokes 12 are cast integrally with the side wall portion e and with the inner rim portion 4 of the drain body.

The upper surface of the inner rim portion 4 forms a seat for the grate 5, and such seat is inclined toward the center of drain body, as shown in Fig. 2. The annular portion 50 of the grate includes an annular section 51 correspondingly tapered on its nether face, snugly to seat upon the inclined top edge of the drain body rim portion 4. The outer peripheral edge 10 of the grate terminates with the outer edge of the inner rim portion 4 of the drain body in substantially the plane of the surface 6 to be drained, and it will also be noted that the annular portion 50 of the grate includes an integral ring section 52, extending downwardly from the tapered grate section 51 and being snugly engaged within the body of the inner rim portion 4 of the drain structure.

A large part of any liquid to be drained from surface 6 is received by the slot 7, whence the liquid flows straight downwardly upon and over the unrestricted internal surfaces of the drain body below, thereby flushing such surfaces with a cleansing downsweeping flow of liquid. While the slot 7 is narrow enough to exclude from the drain solids of a size that might clog the drain pipe, the area of said slot is so proportioned with respect to-- the aggregate area of the openings between the bars I1.A that'j a large part of the liquid draining into the structure enters by way of the slot, thus insuring the desrred scavenging or scouring flow of liquid downward upon the unrestricted drain body side wall.

If it is desirable to ush-out the drain pipe, and the trap associated therewith, with a bucket of water or a hose, it is not necessary, as in the case of prior structures, to remove the grate, since an adequately rapid how of water through the drain can be obtained to remove sediment from the drain pipe and trap, if indeed sediment can collect when the drain of this invention is used. My drain structure serves substantially the same purpose as the more costly flushing rim drains that are provided with a hollow rim into which water is piped under pressure. Furthermore, the tapping of such flushing water from city supply lines is undesirable because it'necessitates cross connections with the city supply, with the danger of back syphonage and contamination of the city water.

Another point may be mentioned. The particular tapered and nested engagement of the grate with the inner rim portion 4 of the drain body opposes the tendency for the grate to tilt when pressure or load is applied to the rim of the grate.

It will be noted that the spokes 12 are of relatively small circumferential extent with respect to the intervening arcuate slots that form the peripheral or auxiliary slot 7. The outwardly extending radial spokes not only support the grate-seating rim portion 4 on the drain body, but positively space such rim portion and the grate away from the wall of the drain body.

The particular form of the drain structure of this invention may be varied in many ways. One example is shown in Fig. 3, wherein the top of the inner rim portion 4a of the drain body 2a lies at an interval below the plane of the top of the outer rim portion 3a. The annular rim portion 50a of the grate 5a is shaped to engage the inner rim portion 4a, as shown, to retain the grate in securely seated position, with the grate in engagement with both the top and the inner vertical surfaces of the rim portion 4a.

In Fig. 4 another modification is shown, wherein the inner rim portion 4b of the drain body 2b is on its inner face of stepped form in vertical section, and the rirn portion 5011 of grate 5b is correspondingly shaped. As in the case of the structures of Figs. l to 3, the top of the grate 5b of Fig. 4 lies flush with the top surface of the outer rim portion 3b of the drain body.

While the drain body 2 is herein shown to consist of an integral or unitary casting, such body may be formed of a plurality of telescoped body portions, to afford vertical adjustment of the body, as described in my copending application, Serial No. 356,748 filed May 22, 1953. Various other modifications of the structure described may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a surface drain comprising a drain body provided with an inlet having an outer peripheral rim, a peripheral side wall extending downwardly from said outer rim to an outlet, and a grate supported in position across the inlet; the invention herein described wherein said side wall is formed with an internal surface that extends downwardly from the inner edge of said outer rim to said outlet, providing a substantially continuous downsweep that is smooth and substantially unrestricted throughout the peripheral and vertical extents of said side wall, an inner peripheral rim spaced radially inward from said outer rim, a plurality of relatively narrow spokes widely spaced circumferentially of the drain body for rigidly uniting the inner and outer rims, the body of said inner rim being shaped to form a grate-supporting seat, said grate having a perforate body within a peripheral portion shaped to engage said seat, with the outer edge of said peripheral portion of the grate spaced at an interval inwardly from said outer rim of the drain body whereby a relatively wide drainage slot is provided to extend in substantial continuity around and within the periphery of said inlet of the drain body, with the effect that in service the entire internal surface of the drain body is flushed by an unrestricted downsweeping flow of drainage liquid.

2. In a surface drain comprising a drain body provided with an inlet having an outer peripheral rim, a peripheral side wall extending downwardly from said outer rim to an outlet, and a grate supported in position across the inlet', the invention herein described wherein said side wall is formed with an internal surface that extends downwardly from the inner edge of said outer rim to said outlet, providing a substantially continuous downsweep that is smooth and substantially unrestricted throughout the peripheral and vertical extents of said side wall, an inner peripheral rim spaced radially inward from said outer rim, a plurality of relatively narrow spokes widely spaced circumferentially of the drain body for rigidly uniting the inner and outer rims, the body of said inner rim being shaped to form a grate-supporting seat, said grate having a perforate body within a peripheral portion shaped to engage said seat, with the outer edge of said peripheral portion of the grate and the outer edge of said inner peripheral rim of the drain body spaced at an interval inwardly from said outer rim of the drain body whereby a relatively wide drainage slot is provided to extend in substantial continuity around and within the periphery of said inlet of the drain body, with the effect that in service the entire -internal surface of the drain body is flushed by an unrestricted downsweeping flow of drainage liquid.

3. In a surface drain comprising a drain body provided with an inlet having an outer peripheral rim, a peripheral side wall extending downwardly from said outer rim to an outlet, and a grate supported on the drain body in position across the inlet; the invention herein described wherein said side wall is formed with an internal surface that extends downwardly from the inner edge of said outer rim to said outlet, providing a substantially continuous downsweep that is smooth and substantially unrestricted throughout the peripheral and vertical extents of said side wall, an inner peripheral rim spaced radially inward from said cuter rim, a plurality of relatively narrow spokes Widely spaced circumferentially of the drain body for rigidly uniting the inner and outer rims, the top of said inner rim being transversely inclined downwardly from its outer peripheral edge to form a grate-supporting seat, said grate having a perforate body within a peripheral portion, said peripheral portion of the grate body having a section inclined to engage said seat and a section extending downward therefrom within the embrace of the body of said inner rim portion of the drain body, the outer edge of said peripheral portion of the grate and the outer edge of the last-mentioned inner rim portion being spaced at an interval inwardly from said outer rim of the drain body whereby a relatively wide drainage slot is provided to extend in a substantial continuity around and within the periphery of said inlet of the drain body, with the effect that in service the entire internal surface of the drain body is flushed by an unrestricted downsweeping flow of drainage liquid.

4. The structure of claim 3, wherein the outer edge of the inclined section of the peripheral portion of the grate meets the outer edge of the inclined top of said inner rim in substantially the plane of the surface to be drained.

5. A surface drain comprising a drain body provided with an inlet having an outer peripheral rim, a peripheral side wall extending downwardly from said outer rim to an outlet, an inner peripheral rim spaced radially inward from said outer rim, a plurality of relatively narrow spokes widely spaced circumferentially of the drain body for rigidly uniting the inner and outer rims, the body of said inner rim providing a seat extending peripherally of the drain body, and a grate having a peripherally extending portion arranged to engage said seat, with the grate body extended across the area encompassed by said inner peripheral rim and said inner rim disposed inwardly from said outer rim, to provide a relatively wide drainage slot that extends in substantial continuity around said inlet.

6. In a surface drain comprising a drain body provided with an inlet having an outer peripheral rim, a peripheral side wall extending downwardly from said outer rim to an outlet, and a grate supported on the drain body in position across the inlet; the invention herein described wherein said side wall is formed with an internal surface that extends downwardly from the inner edge of said outer rim to said outlet, providing a substantially continuous downsweep that is smooth and substantially unrestricted throughout the peripheral and vertical extents of said side wall, an inner peripheral rim spaced radially inward from said outer rim, a plurality of relatively narrow spokes widely spaced circumferentially of the drain body for rigidly uniting the inner and outer rims, said inner rim in vertical section being of stepped form on its inner face to form a grate-supporting seat, said grate having a perforate body Within a peripheral portion, said peripheral portion of the grate body being of inverted stepped form to engage slzjticli seat21 tthle engagld imer peripleal rim of) rle References Cited in the tile of this patent rain o y an e perip era portion o e grate o y 1 being spaced at an interval inwardlyfrom said outer rim UNITED s LATES PATENTS of the drain body whereby a relatively wide drainage Number Name Date slot is provided to extend in substantial continuity around 5 977,860 Franklin Dec. 6, 1910 and within the periphery of said inlet of the drain body, 1,762,838 Shand June 10, 1930 with the effect that in service the entire internal surface 1,809,413 Hirshstein June 9, 1931 of the drain body is flushed by an unrestricted downsweep- 2,328,315 Warren Aug. 31, 1943 ing How of drainage liquid. 2,607,434 Sisk Aug. 19, 1952 

